Blonde Files: Social & Adventures

Its spring cleaning time and de-toxifying everything is on my mind these days. I’m dreading stepping into the catacombs of my closet purging even some of the most questionable pieces that I have had for way too long – including an Eskimo costume and a few dresses that today could double as shirts, from my college days. But for the sake of staving off my closet anxiety attack, I decided that starting with feeling good myself was a little more manageable as a first step in my spring cleaning process.

About a month ago I looked into cleanses, drinkable flush-out, get-out, detoxifying super juices dedicated to restoring your body. I was intrigued by several of my friends that were trying them and the more and more I looked into them online the more and more I found what looked like branded, watered-down and really expensive, shippable juice. I didn’t think I could justify getting a week’s worth of juices shipped to my door not knowing entirely where it came from and sacrificing my spring shopping budget just out of sheer convenience.

Thus, began my online super sleuthing trying to find alternative ways to “detox” and then I found this D.I.Y. Ritual Cleanse. An at home way to get the toxins out by literally raiding the produce section at your local supermarket. So I took to the market and followed the shopping list getting everything from, kale, spinach, lemons, beets and pineapple.

Your grocery list should include for a 3-day cleanse:

• 3 Bushels of Kale
• 2 bags of Spinach
• 18 whole apples – (shortcut: buy the prepackaged slices in a platter – it will save TONS of chop time.)
• 9 Kiwis
• 12 Bananas
• 1 pineapple – (shortcut: pre-sliced will save TONS of chop time.)
• 2 Large cucumbers
• 3 Lemons
• 1 bottle of milk choose almond or soy – (Go with – Silk 90 calorie vanilla flavored almond milk.)
• Honey
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Cayenne Red Pepper
• 3 six packs of water – (FIJI bottles have a good smaller size) 

Each day you drink six juices – 3 green drinks separated by two lighter juice drinks and then what tastes like dessert/protein shake at night before bed. Throughout the day absolutely keep yourself hydrated with water and I allowed myself some lemon to flavor it so I felt a little better than literally chugging water all day.

Confession: I also allowed myself 1 cup of coffee with some light milk and natural sweetener as well in the morning living without coffee for a week seemed a little drastic. I figured as a natural diuretic it couldn’t hurt, right?

Prepping the juice:

So of course there are a few things that you need to make this cleanse a success – First a juicer. If you don’t have one I would really consider investing in it. Since doing my first cleanse, juicing OJ in the morning, making my favorite, mango juice, it’s an investment I don’t regret and it certainly pays in spades.

Also for this project, make sure you have two things, a trash-bowl – yes all Rachel Ray like, and a pitcher. This can also be a messy process and since you are working with some possibly squirt-y fruits I would wear a t-shirt you don’t mind getting a little dirty – no need to get all 21^st century June cleaver while “juicing.”

The Recipes:

The Green Juice – Drink this 3X Daily – Think of it as Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

For 1 bottle:
- 1 large handful of kale
- 1 large handful of spinach
- 1 average sized kiwi, peeled
- 2 apples (about 14/16 slices if you purchased the platter)
- 1 Banana (should be mashed or thrown into a blender)

Directions: Do this juice first. Take all the “Green Juice” Ingredients, chop them finer if needed for your juicer and process them through your machine. If your catch cup gets full – pour what you have juiced in the pitcher. Then after you have juiced all the ingredients add in your mashed banana to your green juice in the pitcher, mix and pour into 3 FIJI bottles for one set of Green Juices for 1 day. Then once all the bottles have even amounts fill the rest with water. Refrigerate until you wish to drink.

Note: I did all three days’ worth of green juices at one time – it cuts way down on your preparation time – I had all three days done at once and could move on to the next juice.

Pineapple-Apple-Cucumber Juice – Drink this once daily, in between breakfast and lunch

For 1 bottle:
- 1 half of a pineapple cut up in juiceable chunks
- 2 apples
- 1 half of one large cucumber

Directions: Juice this second. It has about half- the ingredients so between cleaning of your juicer from one juice to the next this won’t be as bad. Just like your first juice all ingredients that go into this one, using the pitcher as an overflow reserve. Then separate into a bottle (three – if you’re juicing all three days). Keep refrigerated.

Sweet & Spicy Lemonade – Drink this once daily, in between lunch and dinner

For 1 bottle:
- juice of one large lemon
- a teaspoonful of honey (or agave nectar)
- a pinch of cayenne pepper
- rest of bottle filled with filtered water

Directions: Juice the lemons and put all juice into pitcher, add a pinch of cayenne and honey. Stir and separate into a bottle. (three – if you’re juicing all three days). Keep refrigerated.

Banana-Almond Milk Drink this once daily, an hour before bedtime
For 1 bottle:
- 1 cup of raw cashews, soaked in water for 2 hours
- 1 banana
- 1 cup of water
- a pinch each of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg

Directions: Blend the bananas like you have done for the green drink. Fill the bottle about halfway with the almond milk, add bit of water and fill the rest with the banana puree. Add a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg for flavor. (This by far was my favorite drink. A good dessert replacement if you don’t want to indulge on a normal day.) Put the cap on the bottle shake and refrigerate.

All together it took me about 1.5 hours to juice bottle and clean-up everything. My grocery bill for 3 days’ worth – around $80. Much more pocketbook savvy compared to the over $200 I would have spent online for the pre-packaged Ritual Cleanse. If you are willing to sacrifice three days of solid foods to feel lighter, better energized, well rested and a few pounds lighter – and don’t mind spending a few hours to “juice” this is totally the way to go!

If you have any questions about the cleanse – leave a comment – I will answer all that I can or if you would like you can always e-mail the blog PRBlondeBlog@gmail.com.

I will be back later in the week with a bonus post of my D.I.Y. Ritual Cleanse results – but if you are looking for some funny Day by Day commentary – visit the PRB Facebook Page – Happy Juicing!